Refrigerator cabinet



Feb. 28, 1961 o. v. SAUNDERS REFRIGERATOR CABINET Filed Aug. 10, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Orson l/. Saunders BY a His A! am y Feb. 28, 1961 o. v. SAUNDERS I ,97

REFRIGERATOR CABINET Filed Aug. 10, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l5 4 1W 33 34 ({L'IAYAJ 3s 1 32 1 a I 9 I I i, z' l2 INVENTOR. Orson I/ Saunders BY REFRIGERATGR CABINET Orson V. Saunders, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 10, 1959, Ser. No. 832,615

2 Claims. (Cl. 312-204) This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and particularly to the construction of a cabinet of a household refrigerator.

It is an object of my invention to provide decorative means on a household refrigerator cabinet which, in addition to enhancing the appearance of the cabinet, conceals a sealing gasket arranged between the cabinet and its door and also protects side edges of the door when same is closed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a refrigerator cabinet with trim mouldings that are springpressed or snapped in place thereon and which can be readily removed and replaced upon becoming disfigured, damaged or desired to be subsequently exchanged for other trim mouldings for any reason, such as mouldings that will match or be a contrast to different color or the like schemes employed to deco-rate a kitchen in which the refrigerator is to be located.

A further object of my invention is to provide a household refrigerator cabinet with trim or decorative mouldings forming forwardly directed extensions of the cabinet side walls which, in effect, gives the appearance that the cabinet door is inset into the face of the cabinet within bounding insulated walls thereof and which mouldings conceal a gasket seal arranged between the door and the cabinet front surface at its sides.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a refrigerator cabinet with a trim moulding along one side of the cabinet door secured to the cabinet as a unit and another trirn moulding along the other or door hinge side of the cabinet which is in two .complemental coextensive sections having one section secured to an insulated wall of the cabinet and with the other section thereof secured to the side edge of the door for rotation therewith in arcuate fashion around its one or stationary section.

In carrying out the foregoing'objects, it is a more specific object of my invention to provide a sectional trim or decorative moulding at the front of a refrigerator cabinet adjacent an upright side edge of the cabinet door and to hinge the door to the cabinet for swinging movement relative thereto from its top and bottom edges with a part of the hinges concealed in one coextensive section of the sectional trim moulding whereby the concealed part of the hinges together with the one section of the moulding is movable with the door around the other or complemental coextensive section of the moulding.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a refrigerator cabinet constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged broken fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1 showing the door jamb structure of the cabinet with its door in elevation and mouldings adjacent the opposite upright side edges of the cabinet door;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the door hinge side of the refrigerator cabinet with its door opened relative thereto and one section of a sectional trim moulding on the refrigerator moved by the door with respect to another section of the moulding;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 showing a closure cap for the upper end of a trim moulding on the cabinet; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 2 showing a portion of the upper door hinge.

In the drawings, wherein my invention is illustrated, I show in Figure 1 thereof a household refrigerator cabinet generally designated by the reference numeral 1i). Cabinet 16 has a plurality of insulated walls defining a food storage compartment ll. therein (see Figure 2) provided with a front access opening normally closed by an insulated door structure 12. Door 12 is pivotally or hingedly mounted on cabinet 10 by hinge means or hinges generally indicated at 14 and 15 in Figure l. Hinges 14 and 15 mount door 12 on the cabinet for horizontal swinging movement relative thereto so as to afford access to the interior of food compartment 11. Compartment 11 is adapted to be cooled by a cooling element or evaporator of a refrigerating system (not shown) associated with cabinet 16 as is conventional in the art for chilling and preserving food products stored therein. As best shown in Figure 2 or" the drawings, cabinet 10 includes an outer metal shell 16 having an in-turned flange 17 at its front and an inner metal box-like liner l8 spaced from shell 16 by a nonmetallic, preferably molded plastic, breaker strip 19 of suitable cross sectional contour. The space between outer shell 16 and liner 18 contains or has disposed therein insulating material 21 of any desired character to provide thermally insulated cabinet walls about the food storage compartment 11. In-turned flange 17 of shell 16 forms a flat front face for the insulated wall portion of cabinet 10 and a resilient seal or gasket 22 carried by and extending continuously around door 12 is adapted to sealingly engage this cabinet front face about the access opening of food compartment 11. The gasket seal 22 is preferably of the magnet containing type, now well known to those skilled in the art, wherein a plurality of small bar-like permanent magnets (not shown) are disposed within the gasket in end to end relationship and attracted to the metal flange 17 to normally close door 12 and hold it in sealing engagement with the front face or door jamb of cabinet ltl. Any suitable handle means 23 secured to the front of door 12 may be employed to break the magnets in gasket 22 away from the face of cabinet 10 and to swing the door horizontally open about hinges 14 and 15. Liner 18 is preferably supported in cabinet 10 by means other than the breaker strip or throat collar 19, such, for example, as by rigid supports spaced apart around the compartment opening as is also conventional in the art. The in-turned flange 17 on metal shell 16 has an edge part bent back upon itself and thence inwardly and laterally to increase the structural strength of shell 16 and to provide a channel 24 in which one edge of breaker strip 19, which closes the gap between the shell and liner 18, is anchored. The other edge por tion of breaker strip 19 is interlocked with a rolled or bent around flange 26 provided at the front of liner 18. A reinforcing channel iron 27 is disposed behind flange 17 of shell 16 on each side of cabinet as shown for a purpose to hereinafter become apparent.

The decorative trim moulding arrangement employed in the present disclosure includes a plurality of inverted substantially L-shaped sheet metal mounting brackets 31 (see Figures 2 and 4) which are secured in vertically spaced apart relationship. upon the front face of cabinet 10 along one side of door 12 opposite the hinged side thereof. The one or shorter leg of the L of brackets 31 is fixedly attached to channel iron 27 by screws 32 threaded thereinto. The other leg of the L-shaped brackets 31 is longitudinally corrugated, as at 33, to form a filler and to provide the brackets with a vertical shoulder 34 for a purpose to be described. Brackets 31 receive and have interlocked therewith a one-piece spring metal door edge guard or trim strip 36 which extends continuously from the top to the bottom of cabinet 10. Trim strip 36 is bent to provide parallel legs with their edges rolled over, as at 37, and is of such cross sectional contour as to include a wide portion adjacent the front of cabinet 10 or adjacent the rolled over edges 37 and a relatively narrow forward portion (see Figure 2). This provides the inner side of trim strip 36 with a stepped appearance, and its contour increases the structural strength thereof. A crimped or bent inwardly shoulder 38 is formed on strip 36, intermediate its wide and narrow portions, and this shoulder engages the shoulder 34 on brackets 31 to secure the trim strip unit upon cabinet 10. Strip 36 may be painted a contrasting color to the color of other parts of a refrigerator cabinet but are preferably formed of highly polished stainless steel. Legs of the spring metal trim strip or moulding 36 are spread apart, slipped over brackets 31, and then pushed rearwardly toward the front face of cabinet 10 to cause shoulder 38 to snap over and engage shoulder 34 on the brackets. At this time, the rolled over edge 37 on one side of strip 36 engages the rounded front corner of shell 16 of cabinet 10 and the edge 37 on the other side or leg of the strip engages the inwardly flanged portion 17 of the cabinet shell. In other words, the legs of the trim strip 36 are normally directed or angled toward one another and are sprung into straddling engagement with brackets 31 to frictionally lock the strip upon the cabinet. It will be noted that trim strip 36 has a flat exposed side and an inner side which is stepped by virtue of the different widths of the wide and narrow portions of the strip. A die cast metal member provided with a mounting leg portion 41 and having a top portion 42 of a cross section corresponding to thecross sectional contour of the open upper end of strip 36 is secured to the front top part of cabinet 10 above the uppermost of the plurality of brackets 31 by screws 43 (see Figure 4). This cast member forms a plug or cap for closing the upper end of trim strip moulding 36 and a similar member may be employed to close the lower end of the trim strip. It is to be understood that the brackets 31 may be of any desired length and are spaced from one another intermediate ends of the one-piece strip 36. When trim strip 36 is placed on cabinet 10 over brackets 31, its ends are wedged over the end cast metal members with the cap portion 42 thereof projecting from ends of the strip to give same a solid metal appearance. The trim moulding provided by brackets 31 and strip 36 form a hollow uninsulated extension of the one insulated cab inet side wall directly outwardly thereof to provide a forward continuation of the cabinet wall.

It is, of course, desirable to provide a trim or decorative moulding on the front ofcabinet 10 alongthe hinged side of door 12 similar to that just described. However, such a trim moulding, if extended forwardly of the refrigerator cabinet front along the cabinet door, would interfere with or prevent opening swinging movement of door 12 about the hinges 14 and, therefore, this creates a problem. I have conceived a way to provide a trim moulding on the door hinged side of cabinet 10 which, for all intents and purposes, substantially matches the appearance of trim strip 36 while at the same time permitting door 12 to be swung fully open without interference with the trim at its hinged side. In order to accomplish this, 1 provide a trim moulding at the hinged side of door 12 which includes a sectional trim structure comprising or including parallel sections coextensive with one another along the door and complemental to each other at this side of cabinet 10. Referring now to Figures 2 and 5 of the drawings, I secure a plurality of vertically spaced apart substantially C-shaped in cross section brackets 46 to the front face of cabinet 10 at the hinged side of door 12 by screws 47 threaded into the channel iron 27 within the insulated upright wall of the cabinet. Brackets 46 receive and have interlocked therewith a substantially U-shaped in cross section stainless steel spring trim strip 49 which extends continuously from the top of cabinet 10 downwardly to the lower hinge 15 of door 12. The metal at the edge of the legs of U-shaped trim strip or moulding 49 is rolled over upon itself as at 51. The legs of trim strip 49 are spread apart and then sprung over brackets 46 whereupon the rounded edges of legs of the strip snap over curved portions or shoulders on these brackets to thereby frictionally interlock strip 49 therewith and fixedly mount same on the insulated cabinet front wall. Strip 49 forms or completes one section of the sectional moulding at least throughout the length of door 12 at the door hinged side of cabinet 10. A plug 53 (see Figure 5) is wedged into the open upper end of strip 49 to close same and provide a cap thereover. The other section of the sectional trim moulding at the hinge side of cabinet 10 includes vertically spaced apart metal brackets 56 secured to the upright side edge of door 12 by screws 57. The cross sectional contour of these brackets 56 is shaped to provide shoulders thereon for mounting a trim strip thereto. A stainless steel spring trim strip 58, shaped or bent to provide a wide portion and a relatively narrow portion, has edges of legs thereof rolled over, as at 59, which engage the shoulders on brackets 56 to interlock the trim strip thereon. The legs of spring trim strip or moulding 58 are rotated over and fitted upon brackets 56 and then the rolled over edges 59 of the strip are sprung or snapped into frictional engagement with the brackets to secure strip 58 thereto. Trim moulding strip 58 extends continuously along the edge of door 12 intermediate its upper and lower hinges 14 and 15 to complete the other or complemental section of the sectional trim moulding at the door hinged side of cabinet 10 which complementary section is carried by and movable with door 12. A trim moulding similar to strips 49 and 58 or similar to the unitary one-piece strip 36 may be provided on the panel or removable cover of the machine compartment located below door 12 to form a continuation of strips 49 and 58. Trim strip 58 of the one section of the sectional moulding structure is coextensive with trim strip 49 on the other of the sectional mouldings throughout the height of door 12, and by virtue of hinging the door from its top and bottom edges to cabinet 10, there is no necessity of splitting or dividing trim strip 58 into vertical segments along its length to detract from its continuous and neat appearance.

Upper hinge 14 of therefrigerator cabinet door includes a hinge butt 61 (see Figure 5) secured by screws 62 to the side edge of door 12 and has a lateral or horizontal extension 63 provided wtih a hole therein. The

one end of the wing of upper hinge 14 is rigidly secured to the cabinet insulated top wall by suitable bolts or the like as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings and its other or outer end carries a hinge bolt or pin 64 which is received in the hole or bearing provided in the extension 63 of hinge butt 61. The lowermost door hinge 15 may, insofar as the present invention is concerned, be mounted on cabinet in any suitable or desirable manner to pivotally support the bottom edge of door 12 thereon. A cap 66 disposed between the hinge butt extension 63 and the outer part of hinge wing 14 fits into and closes the open upper end of trim strip 58 (see Figure 5) while the hinge wing of lower hinge 15 closes most of the bottom end thereof. As before stated, magnets or magnetic means within gasket 22 hold door 12 shut and when a pulling force is applied to handle 23 the door is swung horizontally open about hinges 14 and 15 to move or rotate the one or complemental section of the sectional moulding or trim strip 58 therewith in an arcuate fashion around the stationary section or strip 49 on cabinet 10 (see Figure 3). When door 12 is swung closed, the magnets in gasket 22 maintain it shut. It is to be noted that the outer side edge of trim strip or mouldings 4-9 and 58 of the complemental sectional moulding means are flush with one another and flush with the outer surface of the side wall of cabinet 10 with which they are associated. Thus the sectional moulding structure or means at the hinge side of door 12 forms a forwardly directed uninsulated extension or continuation of the cabinet side wall thereat. The wall extension trim mouldings or strips 36, 49 and 58 form picture-like frame portions along upright sides of cabinet door 12 to enhance the appearance of the refrigerator cabinet, and these strips, in addition to concealing their mounting brackets, also conceal door gasket 22 at sides of the cabinet from view when the door 12 is closed. Trim mouldings or strips 36, 49 and 53, in effect, give the appearance that door 12 is inset into the face of cabinet 10. While I prefer the use of highly polished stainless steel trim strips, it is to be understood that these strips may be formed of other metal plated or coated with material of various colors to meet the appearance demand of the purchaser of a refrigerator cabinet.

Since the refrigerator cabinet herein disclosed is devoid of a spring biased manually actuated door latching mechanism, which is ordinarily concealed in trim mouldings on a cabinet, at least portions of the present mouldings can be constructed much thinner and extended forwardly of the front face of the refrigerator cabinet a greater distance to cover substantially the entire side edges of the cabinet door when the door is closed and are therefore effective to protect more of the door edges during shipment of the cabinet and also While it is in use after installation thereof. The increased outward projection of the trim mouldings permits the door, when in closed position, to be spaced a little farther away from the front face of the cabinet and this is desired to accommodate an additional thickness of a magnet containing resilient gasket arranged between the cabinet and its door for sealing the food compartment access opening. Also, by virtue of mounting the door so that its top edge is flush with the top of the refrigerator cabinet, the necessity of providing a horizontal trim strip moulding structure on the cabinet above the door is eliminated to thereby reduce the cost of trimming a refrigerator cabinet. The complemental trim mouldings on the door hinged side of the cabinet maches the unitary moulding on the opposite side of the door when the cabinet is viewed from the front and the one section thereof carried by the door is movable thereby in arcuate fashion around the other complementary section without interference with one another.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a refrigerator, a cabinet having insulated walls defining a food storage compartment therein provided with a front access opening, a door for closing the compartment opening, hinge means at the top and bottom of said door mounting same on said cabinet for swinging movement relative thereto, said hinge means having a single pivotal axis spaced a substantial distance in front of the cabinet front wall about which said door swings, a decorative moulding along opposite vertical sides of said door, said mouldings being provided with a surface disposed flush with the exterior surface of side walls of said cabinet forming forwardly directed continuations thereof concealing the juncture between the cabinet and said door as the refrigerator is viewed from one of its sides, said moulding at the hinged side of said door comprising sections aligned horizontally in back of one another with respect to said cabinet front wall and being complemental to each other, the back section of said sectional complemental moulding including a hollow onepiece trim strip extending continuously throughout the height of said doo-r intermediate said hinge means, said trim strip of said back section being secured to said cabinet front wall in spaced relation to the pivotal axis of said hinge means, the front section of said sectional complemental moulding including a hollow one-piece trim strip extending continuously throughout the heightof said door intermediate said hinge means so as to be coextensive with said back trim strip, said trim strip of said front section surrounding a portion of said single pivotal axis of said hinge means and projecting forwardly therefrom in parallel relationship with the peripheral edge of said door at its hinged side in the path of initial swinging movement thereof, said trim strips having portions thereof lying closely adjacent one another and cooperating while said door is shut to substantially close a space therebetween in said sectional forwardly directed cabinet side wall continuation, and said trim strip of the front section of said sectional complemental moulding being secured to said edge of said door and rotatable therewith about said single pivotal axis of the hinge means around the trim strip of said back section of the sectional moulding.

2. In a refrigerator, a cabinet having insulated walls defining a food storage compartment therein provided with a front access opening, a door for closing the compartment opening, hinge means at the top and bottom of said door mounting same on said cabinet for swinging movement relative thereto, said hinge means having a single pivotal axis spaced a substantial distance in front of the cabinet front wall about which said door swings, a gasket carried by said door and extending therearound for engaging said cabinet front wall and air sealing the compartment access opening, a decorative moulding along opposite vertical sides of said door, said mouldings being provided with a surface disposed flush with the exterior surface of side walls of said cabinet forming forwardly directed continuations thereof concealing the gasket on said door while the door is closed and when the refrigerator is viewed from one of its sides, said moulding at the hinged side of said door comprising sections aligned horizontally in back of one another with respect to said cabinet front wall and being complemental to each other, the back section of said sectional complemental moulding including a hollow one-piece trim strip extending continuously throughout the height of said door intermediate said hinge means, said trim strip of said back section being secured to said cabinet front wall in spaced relation to the pivotal axis of said hinge means, the front section of said sectional complemental moulding including a hollow one-piece trim strip extending continuously throughout the height of said door intermediate said hinge means so as to be coextensive with said back trim strip, said trim strip of said front section being provided with a wide part and a narrow part, said Wide part of the trim strip of said from section surrounding a portion of said'singl'e pivotal axis of said hinge means and said narrow part thereof extending forwardly therefrom, said trim strip of said front section paralleling the peripheral edge of said door at its hinged side in the path of initial swinging movement thereof, said narrow part of the trim strip of said front section being spaced from said edge of the door, said trim strips having portions thereof lying closely adjacent one another and cooperating while said door is shut to substantially close a space therebetween in said sectional forwardly directed cabinet side wall continuation, and said 5 of the sectional moulding.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Schwenker Oct. 18, 1955 Perry Nov. 6, 1956 Saunders July 29, 1958, 

